European Tribune - Comments - Monday Open Thread

Monday Open Thread | 32 comments (32 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Is this cuddly enough?

Schlusslicht: Brauner Riese im Dauerrausch \| tagesschau.de		Brown giants on a bender
Wodka, Whisky, Wein? Die slowakischen Braunbären teilen die menschliche Vorliebe für Hochprozentiges. Jedes Jahr im Herbst machen die Zotteltiere in benebeltem Zustand Wälder und Dörfer unsicher. Dort futtern sie tonnenweise vergorenes Fallobst. Kein Wunder, dass es sogar den pelzigen Riesen schummerig wird.		Vodka, whisky, wine? Slovakian brown bears share the human predilection for spirits. Every fall, these hairy critters terrorize forests and villages in their inebriated condition, feasting on tons of fermenting windfall fruit. It's no wonder that even furry giants feel the effects.
Er hat ein braunes Zottelfell, wird bis zu drei Meter groß und ist ein echtes Schleckermaul: Was dem Menschen seine Schnapspraline, das ist dem europäischen Braunbär Ursus arctos ein Haufen Fallobst, je vergorener desto besser. Äpfel oder Birnen in fragwürdigem Zustand - in den slowakischen Bergdörfern liegen sie im Herbst haufenweise auf den Feldern herum.		He has a shaggy brown pelt, can grow up to three meters in size and will go out of his way to get the goodies: while humans go for liqueur-filled bonbons, the European brown bear Ursus arctus prefers a pile of windfall fruit - the more fermented the better. Apples and pears in questionable condition may be found lying richly in the fields of Slovakia's mountain villages.
"Natürlich ist ein Bär dann nicht so betrunken wie ein Mensch, der aus der Kneipe kommt, nach einem halben Liter Schnaps", sagt Miroslav Saniga vom Institut für Waldökologie. "Der Bär torkelt dann nicht durch die Gegend. Aber er ist sehr verspielt. Er legt sich auf den Boden, wälzt sich herum, und vor allem hat er überhaupt keine Lust, bergauf zu gehen. Wie ein betrunkener Mensch, der die Treppe nicht mehr rauf kommt."		"Naturally, the bears aren't as drunk as a person coming out of the bar after downing a half liter of spirits," says Miroslav Saniga from the Institute for Forest Ecology. "The bears don't stagger around. They're very playful. They lie on the ground and roll around, and above all they just don't feel like going back up the mountain. Like a drunk person who can't make it up the stairs."

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Mon Nov 16th, 2009 at 01:07:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Consolation (4.00 / 2)

Don't go near them the next day, they're like a...

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Nov 16th, 2009 at 02:19:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Consolation (4.00 / 2)

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Nov 16th, 2009 at 02:30:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Monday Open Thread | 32 comments (32 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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